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PROCESS DESIGN

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PIPING

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PROCESS DESIGN • PROCESS EQUIPMENTS

Pig Traps (Pig

Receivers and Pig
Launchers)
 4 Min Read

In-Place Pipeline Coating - New And Old Pipelines

Pig launchers are essentially vessels used for
launching of a pipe pig or a pig tool into the
pipeline for cleaning or inspection purpose. After
being launched into the pipeline, the pig tool is
pushed through the pipeline by a driving �uid.
The pipeline is cleaned along the way by
brushing action from the pig. On the other end
the pig tool is received by a pig receiver. Pig
receiver is also a vessel used for receiving the
pipe pig tool. Pig launchers and receivers are
designed to meet the speci�c requirements of a
pipeline.

Pig traps can be of horizontal, vertical or inclined

type. For ease of operation, horizontal pig traps
are preferred. When space constraints become
critical, vertical or inclined pig traps are installed
instead of horizontal.

The schematic shown here is for a horizontal pig

launcher. A horizontal pig receiver would be
almost identical to this schematic, except for the
position and size of certain nozzles such as
drain, kicker line and PSV nozzle.

For any pig trap, be it horizontal, vertical or

inclined pig launcher or receiver, basic structure
is similar and consists of -

1. Major barrel which is larger than the pipeline

size

2. Minor barrel which matches with the pipeline

size

3. A reducer barrel connecting the major and

minor barrels

4. A quick opening door on the major barrel end

of the pig trap

5. Full bore ball valve on the minor barrel end of

the pig trap
6. Following nozzles - kicker line, relieving line
(PSV), pressure gauges on minor and major
barrels, pig signaler on the minor barrel, purge
connection, vent and drains.

7. As a safety measure, quick opening door

should be mechanically interlocked with
isolation valves on kicker line and main line, so
that the door cannot be opened when pig trap is
still connected to these pressurized lines. This
safety precaution can also be accomplished by
interlocking the door with vent or depressurizing
line, so that the door can be opened only when
the pig trap is depressurized.

For vertical pig traps, the reducer barrel is of

concentric type, so that the center lines of major
and minor barrels match with each other.
Vertical pig traps are always installed to have the
major barrel above the minor barrel. The
tentative position of the nozzle shown in the
schematic, may change for vertical pig traps.

Following certain dimensions are important for

pig trap design and have to be speci�ed in the
pig trap datasheet, before sending it to the
supplier.

1. Major barrel size and length

2. Minor barrel length and size (same as pipeline

size)

3. Reducer barrel length.

4. Inclination type of pig trap (horizontal or

vertical)

5. Slope in case of horizontal pig trap

6. Location of certain nozzles such as Kicker line,

Relieving line, drain, vent, pig signaler.

Tags pig launcher pig receiver pig trap

pigging pipe pig

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